London travel news LIVE: Fatal three-car crash sparks 13-mile tailbacks on M25 and shuts M20

The M25 near the M20 interchange (Motorway Cameras )
The M25 near the M20 interchange (Motorway Cameras )

A fatal three-car crash has left the M20 shut for around ten hours, disrupting travel between Kent and London.

The crash happened around 6.15am near the Swanley Interchange, where the M25 meets the M20.

A dark blue Smart car travelling coastbound collided with a blue Vauxhall Mokka travelling on the same carriageway, before then crashing into a BMW 5-Series estate on the slip road from the M25, where it joins the M20.

Police, paramedics and the fire service rushed to the scene but the driver of the Smart car, a man in his 20s, died at the scene.

The M20 remained shut in both directions on Wednesday afternoon.

Congestion was earlier tailing back around 13 miles on the M25, past the Dartford Bridge, but appeared to have cleared by around 11am.

The M20 coastbound is shut across the 15-mile stretch between Junction 1 (M25) and Junction 3 (M26). The London-bound carriageway is shut at junction 1 (M25/Swanley Interchange).

Drivers are being warned of long delays, and National Highways has urged motorists to consider delaying their journeys if possible.

Follow live updates below...

M20 re-opened in both directions

18:58 , Robert Dex

The M20 has re-opened in both directions between Junction 1 and Junction 3 after an earlier collision.

National Highways South-East warned drivers to “allow extra time if travelling in the area” with delays of up to 55 minutes eastbound.

Good service on the Elizabeth Line after delays

18:55 , Robert Dex

There is now a good service on the Elizabeth Line after TfL previously warned of “severe delays” between Paddington and Heathrow Airport/Reading due to a signalling fault at Southall.

Commuters face Elizabeth Line and Tube delays

16:45 , Robert Dex

TfL is reporting “severe delays” on the Elizabeth Line between Paddington and Heathrow Airport/Reading due to a signalling fault at Southall.

There are also delays on the Northern Line due to a faulty train at Tufnell Park and on the Victoria Line due to “train cancellations”.There is no service between Camden Town and East Finchley and Finchley Central and Mill Hill East on the Northern Line

M20 remains closed after fatal crash

15:59 , Jacob Phillips

The M20 remains shut after a fatal three car crash near Swanley Interchange this morning.

The road remains shut eastbound between the M25 and the M26 following the crash.

Traffic is being diverted via the exit and entry slip roads at the M25 on the westbound carriageway.

Police appeal after man in 20s killed in M20 crash

13:40

Police have just confirmed a man in his 20s sadly died in the three-car crash that happened on the M20 near Swanley Interchange this morning.

“At around 6.15am on Wednesday, a dark blue Smart car was travelling in a coastbound direction near Junction 1 of the M20, when it was involved in a collision with a blue Vauxhall Mokka on the same carriageway,” said Kent Police in a statement.

“The Smart car was then involved in a further collision with a BMW 5-Series estate on the slip road from the M25, where it joins the M20.”

The driver of the Smart car was pronounced dead at the scene.

“His next of kin have been informed,” said the spokesperson.

Police are appealing for any witnesses, and drivers who may have relevant dashcam footage to get in touch.

Contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538, quoting reference RY/YP/103/24. You can also email sciu.td@kent.police.uk.

Relevant dashcam footage can be uploaded through the police portal here.

M20 remains shut

13:33 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The M20 remains closed coastbound on the 15-mile stretch between junctions 1 (M25/Swanley Interchange) and 3 (Addington Interchange). It is also shut London-bound within Junction 1.

Trains stopped between West Ealing and Greenford

12:39 , Jacob Phillips

National Rail has warned that trains are unable to run between West Ealing and Greenford due to a fault with the signaling system.

It explained: “A track circuit has failed and Network Rail engineers need a line suspension to allow a fix.”

Great Western Railway services are expected to be affected until around 3pm.

Tube chaos looms again as strikes announced for November

11:48 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Tube passengers are facing week-long travel misery next month after two unions announced a string of London Underground strikes.

Aslef, the Tube drivers’ union, has ordered 24-hour walkouts on Thursday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 12.

Separately, union RMT has called on different groups of staff to take action on different days from November 1 to November 8, in protest at what it called a “wholly inadequate” pay offer.

Aslef strikes are virtually guaranteed to shut the entire Tube network. It is not clear what impact the different RMT walkouts will have but passengers face the likelihood of stations being shut at short notice.

Read the full story here.

M25 congestion clears

11:08 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The earlier congestion on the M25 appears to have cleared, according to traffic monitoring website Inrix.

The M20 remains closed coastbound on the 15-mile stretch between junctions 1 (M25/Swanley Interchange) and 3 (Addington Interchange). It is also shut London-bound within Junction 1.

Severe delays on Northern Line

10:39

The Northern Line has been hit with severe delays between Mordern and Camden Town, caused by a faulty train at Oval.

There is a good service on the rest of the line, says TfL.

13-mile congestion on M25 as M20 remains shut

09:13

There is still very heavy traffic tailing back on the M25, according to traffic monitoring website Inrix.

The M20 remains shut coastbound on the 15-mile stretch between junctions 1 (Swanley Interchange) and 3 (Addington Interchange). It is also shut London-bound within Junction 1.

Congestion is backing up along the M25 anti-clockwise for around 13 miles, across the QE II Bridge to the Thurrock area.

Diversion in place for M25 and M20 traffic, but drivers advised to avoid area

08:32

A diversion is in place to help motorists affected by this morning’s crash on the M25, which has closed the M20.

Traffic travelling on the M25 clockwise and wishing to head towards Maidstone are advised to join the A2 coastbound at J2, continue onto the M2 and then join the A249 southbound at J5.

National Highways warns those whose journeys are likely to be affected: “Please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.”

Further information is available from National Highways by visiting its www.trafficengland.com website and travel apps, or via its regional twitter feed.

National Highways’ 24/7 contact centre team is also available to provide up to the minute information on 0300 123 5000.

Emergency services at scene of three-car crash as police advise motorists to 'consider alternative routes'

08:16 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

We can now bring you some further details about this morning’s crash.

Kent Police has just confirmed it happened around 6.20am and involved three cars.

“Patrols are currently at the scene of a serious collision on the slip road from Junction 3 on the M25 towards the coastbound M20,” said a spokesperson.

“Kent Police was called to the incident involving three cars at 6.19am.

“South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service are also in attendance and the slip road has been closed by highways officers.

“Motorists are advised to consider alternative routes while emergency services respond to the incident.”

M20 closed after 'three-car crash'

08:12 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The M20 in Kent has been shut due to this morning’s crash near Swanley Interchange. Traffic monitoring website Inrix says the crash happened around 6.30am and involves three vehicles.

  • The M20 east/coastbound is closed between Junction 1 (M25) and Junction 3 (M26)

  • The M20 west/Londonbound is also closed within Junction 1. Traffic is being diverted off at the exit slip and back on at the entry slip (up and over)

Serious crash closes M20 and causes long delays on M25

08:01 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Good morning, and welcome to The Standard’s travel live blog.

A serious crash at Swanley Interchange has shut the M20 in Kent and has left heavy traffic queuing on the M25 this morning.

We’ll be bringing you updates as the situation unfolds, along with all you need to know about issues affecting travel elsewhere in and around London.